Venous drain tube assembly for embalmers



April 13, 1954 H. M. DAvls VENOUS DRAIN TUBE ASSEMBLY FOR EMBALMERS F'led April 4, 1952 'INVEN TOR.

HOWARD M. DAVIS ATTO l Patented Apr. 13, 1954 VENOUS DRAIN TUBE ASSEMBLY FOR EDIBALMERS Howard M. Davis, Cincinnati, Ohio Application April 4, 1952, Serial No. 280,621

1 claim. l

This invention relates to a venous drain tube assembly for embalmers.

An object of the invention is to provide a venous drain tube assembly which comprises a base or standard to which a motor is adjustably secured for driving an agitator shaft housed within a venous drain tube secured to and carried by the motor housing wherein suitable adjustment means are provided between the standard and motor for enabling the drain tube to be disposed in substantial axial alignment with a vein to be drained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a venous drain tube assembly the tube of which includes a perforated forward end, and an agitator which includes a spiraled agitator bit for literally disintegrating blood clots, fat clots, viscous blood and other foreign matter. By thus disintegrating those substances which have hitherto clogged venous drain tubes, I am able to remove venous blood as fast as it is expelled by arterial injection f to the drain tube. In this manner swelling heretofore induced by the back pressure resulting from the ina-bility of the venous blood to be properly eliminated from the body has been effectively eliminated.

By eliminating or reducing the body swelling to a minimum subsequent dehydration of the lips, eyes and other parts of the body is avoided.

lStill another object of the invention is to provide a device having the hereinabove described characteristics which is so constructed and ar` ranged as to enable it to be used as a fully mechanized agitator or as a manually operable suction tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a venous drain tube assembly wherein the drain tube is provided with means for enabling it to be releasably, though securely, attached to the drive motor, thereby greatly enhancing its utility.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an assembly which is constructed and arranged in such a manner as to preclude the passage of fluids rearwardly along the drain tube intov the motor drive.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a venous drain tube assembly which will en-v able a body to be quickly drained of venous blood whereby the arterial injection of embalming fluid will more readily diffuse into the cellular spaces of the body instead of being forced into the intercellular spaces causing swelling and discoloration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a venous drain tube assembly which, being motor driven, will give the embalmer free time to observe the body and the results he is striving for during the embalrning process. l

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a. drain tube assembly embodying the teachings of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the drain tube portion of the device of Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the spiraled agitator bit of Fig. 2, rotated through 9() degrees.

Fig. 4 is a section View on line '1 -4 of Fig. 2.

With reference now to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the device comprises a standard I0 for supporting a motor i2 in any desired rela-tive position. Standard ID may include a bottom I4 engageable on a suitable supporting surface. If desired, feet I 6 may be provided, as illustrated.

Relative vertical adjustment of the motor may be obtained by means of shaft I8 telescopically receivable within standard Iii and maintained in desired position by means of set screw 20.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a .suitable ball and socket joint is provided, it being understood that a ball (i9) is secured to and carried by the lower end of arm 22 secured to and carried by motor bracket 24. A set screw 25 engages the ball for enabling the motor to be disposed in any relative position relative to standard l0.

A venous drain tube or casing 30 is provided at its forward end with a perforated zone 32 defined by a plurality of rows of apertures 34, note Fig. 2; whereas the other end of the tube may terminate in a reinforcing element 3| provided with external threads 33 and an annular abutment 35. A shaft 3G extends through tube 3l] terminating at its forward end in a spiraled agitator bit 38.

A.' sleeve el! is releasably secured to and in axial alignment with the rearmost end of the tube by means of threaded portion 42 engageable with threaded portion. 33 for disposing the sleeve in substantial axial alignment with the tube. A bearing 44 is provided in sleeve 4B for supporting shaft 36 in axial alignment with the casing and for enabling the shaft to be rotated within the casing as well as to be moved axially thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention packing i5 is disposed around shaft 36 and forwardly of bearing 144.Y A compression ring 43 may be provided between the forward end of packing 46 and the rearwardend 3l of reinforcing element 3| of tube 30 for enabling the operator to vary thedegree of compression to which the packing is subjected.

The rear end of shaft 36 projects rearwardly beyond bearing 44 terminating in a member sleeve 53 which. may be manipulated for imparting rotary or axial movement to shaft 36.

The length of the spiraled agitator bit 38 approximates the length of perforated zone 32, whereas the diametricalvdimensions of said bit enable it to rotatably engage the inner wall of the casing or tube 30.

A discharge spout 50 is disposed in open communication, as at 52, with the interior of casing adjacent its-rear end.

With particular reference now to Fig. it will be noted that motor housing l2 may include a forwardly projecting socket portion 60 into which sleeve may be received for disposing member 5t of shaft 36 in driven relationship with drive shaft B2 of the motor. Suitable means, such as, by way of example, an internally threaded ring 64 secured to and carried by sleeve 40 may engage externally threaded portion B5 of motor socket 6U for thereby enabling the drain tube to be securely, though releasably, fastened relative to motor l2.

In use the forward end of tube 30 is inserted into and in axial alignment with the jugular or femoral vein of a body, the desired alignment being effected by means of the ball and socket connection by which the motor is secured to standard I0.

It will, of course, be understood that venous drainage is accomplished by means of injecting embalming fluid, under pressure, into the arteries via the carotid or femoral artery. Operation of motor l2 results in rapid rotation of agitator bit 38 to effectively whip up, break down or otherwise disintegrate all clots or foreign materials with which it may come in contact, thereby effe-ctively precluding clogging of tube 30 incident to drainage of venous bloodfrom a body.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the perforated zone 32 is of a length 150 to 250% of the diameter of tube or casing 30, and as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the forward end of the agitator bit extends outwardly beyond the forward end of the casing by a dimension approximating the diameter of the casing.

With particular reference now to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the forward end of agitator bit 38 is provided with a hollow concave or spoonlike portion 3,9 with a slight angle in one side as at 4i to guide uid axially therealong for preventing fluid from passing off over the edge, thereby enhancing its whipping or agitating action. fIhe agitator spirals blend down to the fluted head for delivering drainage therethrough into the interior of casing 3B.

The perforated zone 32 allows blood` drainage and Aclots to enter casing 3B therethrough, the

blood flowing freely while the clots are caught up and disintegrated by the rotating Aagitator bit the edges of which o o-operate with the apertures in the casing to provide a highly effective cutter.

In those instances wherein it becomes necessary or desirable to manuallyactuate shaft 36, this may be done by disconnecting the casing from socket '$6 of the motor housing, thereby enabling the user of the device to grasp member for thereby reciprocating shaft 35 and agitator bit 33 longitudinally of and within casing 38. It will be noted that agitator bit 38 may be retracted within casing Sil-to a locationrearwardly of port 52 of discharge spout 50,-thereby enabling the entire interior of the casing torba-swept by the bit, the retraction of the agitator bit enabling the operator to develop a suction within the casing.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a drain opening 'i0 is provided-in the bottom wall of Amotor socket for providing suitable drainage means for any fluids which might seep beyond packing 4B and bearing 44.

In operation standard l0 is placed adjacent a body and tube 30 inserted into the vein to be drained, said vein being tied onto the tube to insure a proper, fluid-tight connection. The tube may then be secured to the motor housing, proper axial alignment with the vein being effected by means of set screws 2B and 26. The pressure ofthe embalming uid, introduced via an artery, will cause a slight distention of the vein around Ythe forward, perforated zone of the `drain tube sufficient to preclude abrading of the vein by the forward end of the agitator bit.

It has been noted that the presence of the agitator bit in tube 35 precludes the free or sudden drainage of fiuid from the vein, the drainage being controlled and steady and characterized by the establishment of suicient back pressure to slightly distend, by way of example, the veins in the hands of the body, thereby enhancing the ease of embalming a body.

It should be understood that various changes in the structural details of the device may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A venous drain tube assembly including a straight hollow open ended tube, a rotatable shaft extending axially of said tube, an agitator bit of spiral form extending forwardly from the forward end of said shaft and secured thereto, said agitator bit extending along the forward end portion of the tube and being of a diameter to rotatably t the inner wall thereof, a lateral Adischarge spout in open communication with the tube intermediate the ends thereof, a sleeve extending from the rear end of the tube secured thereto and in axial alinement therewith, a bearing in said sleeve for supporting said shaft for rotary and axial movement. the rear end portion of the shaft projecting rearwardly beyond said bearing, a sleeve member xedly secured to and extending rearwardly from the rear end of the shaft, a motor having a casing provided with a socket disposed in axial alinement with and detachably secured in telescoping engagement with said sleeve, said motor having a rotary drive shaft extending axially of said socket in telescoping intertting engagement with said sleeve member t0 provide a detachable rotary drive connection therewith, whereby the sleeve and tube may be disconnected from thevsocket of the motor casing, and the sleevernember on the inner end of the first mentioned shaft disconnected from thermotor shaft so that axial movement may be manually imparted through said sleeve member to the first mentioned shaft and the spiral bit to retract the latter vto a position rearwardly ofthe lateral discharge spout,

References Cited in theflle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 556,502 Hobgen Mar. 17, 1896 ,954,494 Andrews Apr. 12, 1910 2,341,388 Rocca Feb. 8, 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Embalmers Monthly, May 1950, back cover page. 

